Windowed sequencing

ABSTRACT

In one implementation, a method is described. The method includes determining an operational characteristic of sensors of a sensor array. The method further includes selecting a group of sensors in the array based on the operational characteristic of sensors in the group. The method further includes enabling readout of the sensors in the selected group. The method further includes receiving output signals from the enabled sensors.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/153,898 filed Oct. 8, 2018, which is a division of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/043,296 filed Feb. 12, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No.10,100,357, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/891,023 filed May 9, 2013, now abandoned, which disclosures areherein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure, in general, relates to methods for nucleic acidsequencing.

BACKGROUND

A variety of types of chemical sensors have been used in the detectionof chemical processes. One type is a chemically-sensitive field effecttransistor (chemFET). A chemFET includes a source and a drain separatedby a channel region, and a chemically sensitive area coupled to thechannel region. The operation of the chemFET is based on the modulationof channel conductance, caused by changes in charge at the sensitivearea due to a chemical reaction occurring nearby. The modulation of thechannel conductance changes the threshold voltage of the chemFET, whichcan be measured to detect and/or determine characteristics of thechemical reaction. The threshold voltage may for example be measured byapplying appropriate bias voltages to the source and drain, andmeasuring a resulting current flowing through the chemFET. As anotherexample, the threshold voltage may be measured by driving a knowncurrent through the chemFET, and measuring a resulting voltage at thesource or drain.

An ion-sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET) is a type of chemFETthat includes an ion-sensitive layer at the sensitive area. The presenceof ions in an analyte solution alters the surface potential at theinterface between the ion-sensitive layer and the analyte solution, dueto the protonation or deprotonation of surface charge groups caused bythe ions present in the analyte solution. The change in surfacepotential at the sensitive area of the ISFET affects the thresholdvoltage of the device, which can be measured to indicate the presenceand/or concentration of ions within the solution.

Arrays of ISFETs may be used for monitoring chemical reactions, such asDNA sequencing reactions, based on the detection of ions present,generated, or used during the reactions. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No.7,948,015 to Rothberg et al., which is incorporated by reference hereinin its entirety. More generally, large arrays of chemFETs or other typesof chemical sensors may be employed to detect and measure static and/ordynamic amounts or concentrations of a variety of analytes (e.g.hydrogen ions, other ions, compounds, etc.) in a variety of processes.The processes may for example be biological or chemical reactions, cellor tissue cultures or monitoring neural activity, nucleic acidsequencing, etc.

An issue that arises in the operation of large scale chemical sensorarrays is the susceptibility of the sensor output signals to noise.Specifically, the noise affects the accuracy of the downstream signalprocessing used to determine the characteristics of the chemical and/orbiological process being detected by the sensors.

It is therefore desirable to provide methods for reducing noise inoutput signals of chemical sensors and improving signal to noise ratioand readout of chemical sensors.

SUMMARY

In one implementation, a method is described. The method includesdetermining an operational characteristic of sensors of a sensor array.The method further includes selecting a group of sensors in the arraybased on the operational characteristic of sensors in the group. Themethod further includes enabling readout of the sensors in the selectedgroup. The method further includes receiving output signals from theenabled sensors, the output signals indicating chemical reactionsoccurring proximate to the sensors of the sensor array.

In one embodiment, the operational characteristic of sensors of a sensorarray is selected from the group of a bead loading quality of thesensors of the sensor array, a noise spectrum of the sensors of thesensor array, and a threshold voltage value of the sensors of the sensorarray. In another embodiment, readout of remaining sensors of the sensorarray is bypassed. According to another embodiment, the selecting agroup of sensors in the array is based on more than one operationalcharacteristic of sensors in the group. In a further embodiment, thesensors in the sensor array include chemically-sensitive field effecttransistors. According to once embodiment, the chemically-sensitivefield effect transistors are arranged in rows and columns and theselecting includes selecting contiguous rows of chemically-sensitivefield effect transistors in the sensor array. In another embodiment, theoutput signals further indicate an ion concentration due to sequencingreactions occurring proximate to the chemically-sensitive field effecttransistors. According to one embodiment, the output signals are analogsignals and the method further includes converting the output signalsinto digital signals and the receiving output signals further includesreceiving the converted digital signals.

In another implementation, a method for nucleic acid sequencing isdescribed. The method includes providing template nucleic acids to atleast some of a plurality of locations coupled to sensors of an array.The method further includes analyzing output signals of the sensors ofthe array to identify which locations in the plurality of locationscontain the disposed template nucleic acids. The method further includesselecting a group of sensors coupled to identified locations containingthe disposed template nucleic acids. The method further includesintroducing known nucleotides within at least some of the plurality oflocations. The method further includes measuring the output signals ofthe selected sensors to detect sequencing reaction byproducts resultingfrom incorporation of the introduced known nucleotides into one of moreprimers hybridized to at least one of the disposed template nucleicacids.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises enabling readout of thesensors in the selected group, and bypassing readout of remainingsensors of the sensor array. In another embodiment, the sequencingreaction byproducts comprise hydrogen ions. In yet another embodiment,the sequencing reaction byproducts resulting from incorporation are ofchemically similar composition for each of the known nucleotides. In oneembodiment, the method further comprises determining at least a portionof sequences of at least a portion of the template nucleic acids basedon the introduced known nucleotides and further based on the measuredoutput signals. According to one embodiment, the sensors comprisefield-effect transistors having a chemically sensitive portionresponsive to the sequencing reaction byproducts and disposed inproximity to the locations such that the at least one of the sequencingreaction byproducts diffuse or contact the sensors to thereby bedetected. According to another embodiment, the chemically sensitiveportion of the field-effect transistors of the array is responsive to aplurality of different sequencing reaction byproducts. In yet anotherembodiment, the locations are within respective reaction chambers. Inone embodiment, the measured output signals are analog signals and themethod further includes converting the output signals into digitalsignals and the receiving output signals further includes receiving theconverted digital signals.

Particular aspects of one more implementations of the subject matterdescribed in this specification are set forth in the drawings and thedescription below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of thesubject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings,and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of components of a system for nucleicacid sequencing according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of the integratedcircuit device and flow cell according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of representative chemicalsensors and corresponding reaction regions according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary chemical sensor arrayof coupled to an array controller, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method for nucleic acid sequencing, according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates examples of two different groups of sensors in anarray that have been selected based on an operational characteristic ofsensors in the group, according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Methods for reducing noise in output signals of chemical sensors andimproving readout of output signal of chemical sensors based on theoperational characteristic of the chemical sensors are described. Forexample, an integrated circuit may comprise an array of chemicallysensitive sensors arranged in rows and columns. Output signals from thesensors indicating chemical reactions occurring proximate to the sensorsof the sensor array may be read out. Determining an operationalcharacteristic of sensors of a sensor array before the chemicalreactions occur and reading out sensors based on the determinedoperational characteristic results in improved signal quality of outputsignals, for example.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of components of a system for nucleicacid sequencing according to an exemplary embodiment. The componentsinclude flow cell 101 on integrated circuit device 100, referenceelectrode 108, plurality of reagents 114 for sequencing, valve block116, wash solution 110, valve 112, fluidics controller 118, lines120/122/126, passages 104/109/111, waste container 106, array controller124, and user interface 128. Integrated circuit device 100 includesmicrowell array 107 overlying a sensor array that includes chemicalsensors as described herein. Flow cell 101 includes inlet 102, outlet103, and flow chamber 105 defining a flow path for reagents overmicrowell array 107. Reference electrode 108 may be of any suitable typeor shape, including a concentric cylinder with a fluid passage or a wireinserted into a lumen of passage 111. Reagents 114 may be driven throughthe fluid pathways described above, valve block 116 and valve 112, andflow cell 101 by pumps, gas pressure, or other suitable methods, and maybe discarded into waste container 106 after exiting outlet 103 of flowcell 101. Fluidics controller 118 may control driving forces forreagents 114 and the operation of valve 112 and valve block 116 withsuitable software. Flow cell 101 may have a variety of configurationsfor controlling the path and flow rate of reagents 114 over microwellarray 107. Array controller 124 provides bias voltages and timing andcontrol signals to integrated circuit device 100 for reading thechemical sensors of the sensor array. Array controller 124 also providesa reference bias voltage to reference electrode 108 to bias reagents 114flowing over microwell array 107. Microwell array 107 includes an arrayof reaction regions as described herein, also referred to herein asmicrowells, which are operationally associated with correspondingchemical sensors in the sensor array. For example, each reaction regionmay be coupled to a chemical sensor suitable for detecting an analyte orreaction property of interest within that reaction region. Microwellarray 107 may be integrated in integrated circuit device 100, so thatmicrowell array 107 and the sensor array are part of a single device orchip.

During an experiment, array controller 124 collects and processes outputsignals from the chemical sensors of the sensor array through outputports on integrated circuit device 100 via bus 127. Array controller 124may be a computer or other computing means. Array controller 124 mayinclude memory for storage of data and software applications, aprocessor for accessing data and executing applications, and componentsthat facilitate communication with the various components of the systemin FIG. 1. The values of the output signals of the chemical sensorsindicate physical and/or chemical parameters of one or more reactionstaking place in the corresponding reaction regions in microwell array107. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the values of the outputsignals may be processed using the techniques disclosed in Rearick etal., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/339,846, filed Dec. 29, 2011,based on U.S. Prov. Pat. Appl. Nos. 61/428,743, filed Dec. 30, 2010, and61/429,328, filed Jan. 3, 2011, and in Hubbell, U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/339,753, filed Dec. 29, 2011, based on U.S. Prov. Pat. Appl.No 61/428,097, filed Dec. 29, 2010, each which are incorporated byreference herein in their entirety. User interface 128 may displayinformation about flow cell 101 and the output signals received fromchemical sensors in the sensor array on integrated circuit device 100.User interface 128 may also display instrument settings and controls,and allow a user to enter or set instrument settings and controls.

In an exemplary embodiment, during the experiment fluidics controller118 may control delivery of individual reagents 114 to flow cell 101 andintegrated circuit device 100 in a predetermined sequence, forpredetermined durations, at predetermined flow rates. Array controller124 can then collect and analyze the output signals of the chemicalsensors indicating chemical reactions occurring in response to thedelivery of reagents 114. During the experiment, the system may alsomonitor and control the temperature of integrated circuit device 100, sothat reactions take place and measurements are made at a knownpredetermined temperature. The system may be configured to let a singlefluid or reagent contact reference electrode 108 throughout an entiremulti-step reaction during operation. Valve 112 may be shut to preventany wash solution from flowing into passage 109 as reagents 114 areflowing. Although the flow of wash solution may be stopped, there maystill be uninterrupted fluid and electrical communication betweenreference electrode 108, passage 109, and microwell array 107. Thedistance between reference electrode 108 and junction between passages109 and 111 may be selected so that little or no amount of the reagentsflowing in passage 109 and possibly diffusing into passage 111 reachreference electrode 108. In an exemplary embodiment, wash solution 110may be selected as being in continuous contact with reference electrode108, which may be especially useful for multi-step reactions usingfrequent wash steps.

FIG. 2 illustrates cross-sectional and expanded views of a portion ofintegrated circuit device 100 and flow cell 101. During operation, flowchamber 105 of flow cell 101 confines reagent flow 208 of deliveredreagents across open ends of the reaction regions in microwell array107. The volume, shape, aspect ratio (such as base width-to-well depthratio), and other dimensional characteristics of the reaction regionsmay be selected based on the nature of the reaction taking place, aswell as the reagents, byproducts, or labeling techniques (if any) thatare employed. The chemical sensors of sensor array 205 are responsive to(and generate output signals to) chemical reactions within associatedreaction regions in microwell array 107 to detect an analyte or reactionproperty of interest. The chemical sensors of sensor array 205 may forexample be chemically sensitive field-effect transistors (chemFETs),such as ion-sensitive field effect transistors (ISFETs). Examples ofchemical sensors and array configurations that may be used inembodiments are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2010/0300559, No. 2010/0197507, No. 2010/0301398, No. 2010/0300895, No.2010/0137143, and No. 2009/0026082, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,575,865, eachwhich are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of two representative chemicalsensors and their corresponding reaction regions according to anexemplary embodiment. In FIG. 3, two chemical sensors 350, 351 areshown, representing a small portion of a sensor array that can includemillions of chemical sensors. Chemical sensor 350 is coupled tocorresponding reaction region 301, and chemical sensor 351 is coupled tocorresponding reaction region 302. Chemical sensor 350 is representativeof the chemical sensors in the sensor array. In the illustrated example,chemical sensor 350 is an ion-sensitive field effect transistor.Chemical sensor 350 includes floating gate structure 318 having afloating gate conductor (referred to herein as the sensor plate)separated from reaction region 301 by sensing material 316. As shown inFIG. 3, sensor plate 320 is the uppermost patterned layer of conductivematerial in floating gate structure 318 underlying reaction region 301.

In the illustrated example, floating gate structure 318 includesmultiple patterned layers of conductive material within layers ofdielectric material 319. The upper surface of sensing material 316 actsas sensing surface 317 for chemical sensor 350. In the illustratedembodiment, sensing material 316 is an ion-sensitive material, such thatthe presence of ions or other charged species in a solution in thereaction region 301 alters the surface potential of sensing surface 317.The change in the surface potential is due to the protonation ordeprotonation of surface charge groups at the sensing surface caused bythe ions present in the solution. The sensing material may be depositedusing various techniques, or naturally formed during one or more of themanufacturing processes used to form chemical sensor 350. In someembodiments, sensing material 316 is a metal oxide, such as an oxide ofsilicon, tantalum, aluminum, lanthanum, titanium, zirconium, hafnium,tungsten, palladium, iridium, etc, or any other suitable metal oxide, orcombination thereof. In some embodiments, sensing material 316 is anoxide of the upper layer of conductive material of sensor plate 320. Forexample, the upper layer of sensor plate 320 may be titanium nitride,and sensing material 316 may comprise titanium oxide or titaniumoxynitride. More generally, sensing material 316 may comprise one ormore of a variety of different materials to facilitate sensitivity toparticular ions. For example, silicon nitride or silicon oxynitride, aswell as metal oxides such as silicon oxide, aluminum or tantalum oxides,generally provide sensitivity to hydrogen ions, whereas sensingmaterials comprising polyvinyl chloride containing valinomycin providesensitivity to potassium ions. Materials sensitive to other ions such assodium, silver, iron, bromine, iodine, calcium, and nitrate may also beused, depending upon the implementation.

The chemical sensor also includes source region 321 and drain region 322within semiconductor substrate 354. Source region 321 and drain region322 comprise doped semiconductor material have a conductivity typedifferent from the conductivity type of substrate 354. For example,source region 321 and drain region 322 may comprise doped P-typesemiconductor material, and the substrate may comprise doped N-typesemiconductor material. Channel region 323 separates source region 321from drain region 322. Floating gate structure 318 overlies channelregion 323, and is separated from substrate 354 by gate dielectric 352.Gate dielectric 352 may be for example silicon dioxide. Alternatively,other suitable dielectrics may be used for gate dielectric 352. Reactionregion 301 extends through fill material 310 on dielectric material 319.The fill material may for example comprise one or more layers ofdielectric material, such as silicon dioxide or silicon nitride. Sensorplate 320, sensing material 316 and reaction region 301 may for examplehave circular cross-sections. Alternatively, these may be non-circular.For example, the cross-section may be square, rectangular, hexagonal, orirregularly shaped. The device in FIG. 3 can also include additionalelements such as array lines (e.g. word lines, bit lines, etc.) foraccessing the chemical sensors, additional doped regions in substrate354, and other circuitry (e.g. access circuitry, bias circuitry etc.)used to operate the chemical sensors, depending upon the device andarray configuration in which the chemical sensors described herein areimplemented. In some embodiments, the device may for example bemanufactured using techniques described in U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2010/0300559, No. 2010/0197507, No. 2010/0301398, No.2010/0300895, No. 2010/0137143, and No. 2009/0026082, and U.S. Pat. No.7,575,865, each which are incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety.

In operation, reactants, wash solutions, and other reagents may move inand out of reaction region 301 by diffusion mechanism 340. Chemicalsensor 350 is responsive to (and generates an output signal related to)the amount of charge 324 present on sensing material 316 opposite sensorplate 320. Changes in charge 324 cause changes in the voltage onfloating gate structure 318, which in turn changes in the thresholdvoltage of the transistor. This change in threshold voltage can bemeasured by measuring the current in channel region 323 between sourceregion 321 and drain region 322. As a result, chemical sensor 350 can beused directly to provide a current-based output signal on an array lineconnected to source region 321 or drain region 322, or indirectly withadditional circuitry to provide a voltage-based output signal. In anembodiment, reactions carried out in reaction region 301 can beanalytical reactions to identify or determine characteristics orproperties of an analyte of interest. Such reactions can generatedirectly or indirectly byproducts that affect the amount of chargeadjacent to sensor plate 320. If such byproducts are produced in smallamounts or rapidly decay or react with other constituents, multiplecopies of the same analyte may be analyzed in reaction region 301 at thesame time in order to increase the output signal generated. In anembodiment, multiple copies of an analyte may be attached to solid phasesupport 312, either before or after deposition into reaction region 301.The solid phase support may be microparticles, nanoparticles, beads,solid or porous gels, or the like. For simplicity and ease ofexplanation, solid phase support may also be referred herein as aparticle. For a nucleic acid analyte, multiple, connected copies may bemade by rolling circle amplification (RCA), exponential RCA, RecombinasePolymerase Amplification (RPA), Polymerase Chain Reaction amplification(PCR), emulsion PCR amplification, or like techniques, to produce anamplicon without the need of a solid support.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary chemical sensor arraycoupled to an array controller, according to an exemplary embodiment. Invarious exemplary implementations, array controller 124 may befabricated as a “stand alone” controller, or as a computer compatible“card” forming part of a computer 460, (See FIG. 8 in U.S. Pat. No.7,948,015 for further details, which is incorporated by reference in itsentirety herein). In one aspect, the functions of the array controller124 may be controlled by computer 460 through an interface block 452(e.g., serial interface, via USB port or PCI bus, Ethernet connection,etc.), as shown in FIG. 4. In one embodiment, array controller 124 isfabricated as a printed circuit board into which integrated circuitdevice 100 plugs; similar to a conventional IC chip (e.g., integratedcircuit device 100 is configured as an ASIC that plugs into the arraycontroller). In one aspect of such an embodiment, all or portions ofarray controller 124 may be implemented as a field programmable gatearray (FPGA) configured to perform various array controller functions.For example, having determined an operational characteristic of sensorsof the sensor array, the FPGA may be configured to select a group ofsensors in the array based on the operational characteristic of sensorsin the group and enable readout of the sensors in the selected group.Suitable readout circuitry may receive output signals from the enabledsensors, the output signals indicating chemical reactions occurringproximate to the sensors of the sensor array.

Generally, array controller 124 provides various supply voltages andbias voltages to integrated circuit device 100, as well as varioussignals relating to row and column selection, sampling of pixel outputsand data acquisition. In particular, array controller 124 reads the twoanalog output signals Vout1 (for example, odd columns) and Vout2 (forexample, even columns) including multiplexed respective pixel voltagesignals from integrated circuit device 100 and then digitizes theserespective pixel signals to provide measurement data to computer 460,which in turn may store and/or process the data. In someimplementations, array controller 124 also may be configured to performor facilitate various array calibration and diagnostic functions, and anoptional array UV irradiation treatment (See FIG. 11A in U.S. Pat. No.7,948,015, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein,for further details). In general, the array controller provides theintegrated circuit device with the analog supply voltage and ground(VDDA, VSSA), the digital supply voltage and ground (VDDD, VSSD), andthe buffer output supply voltage and ground (VDDO, VSSO). In oneexemplary implementation, each of the supply voltages VDDA, VDDD andVDDO is approximately 3.3 Volts.

As discussed above, in one aspect each of these power supply voltages isprovided to integrated circuit device 100 via separate conducting pathsto facilitate noise isolation. In another aspect, these supply voltagesmay originate from respective power supplies/regulators, or one or moreof these supply voltages may originate from a common source in powersupply 458 of array controller 124. Power supply 458 also may providethe various bias voltages required for array operation (e.g., VB1, VB2,VB3, VB4, VBO0, V_(BODY)) and the reference voltage VREF used for arraydiagnostics and calibration. In another aspect, power supply 458includes one or more digital-to-analog converters (DACs) that may becontrolled by computer 460 to allow any or all of the bias voltages,reference voltage, and supply voltages to be changed under softwarecontrol (i.e., programmable bias settings). For example, power supply458 responsive to computer control may facilitate adjustment of the biasvoltages VB1 and VB2 for pixel drain current, VB3 for column bus drive,VB4 for column amplifier bandwidth, and VBO0 for column output buffercurrent drive. In some aspects, one or more bias voltages may beadjusted to optimize settling times of signals from enabled pixels.Additionally, the common body voltage V_(BODY) for all ISFETs of thearray may be grounded during an optional post-fabrication UV irradiationtreatment to reduce trapped charge, and then coupled to a higher voltage(e.g., VDDA) during diagnostic analysis, calibration, and normaloperation of the array for measurement/data acquisition. Likewise, thereference voltage VREF may be varied to facilitate a variety ofdiagnostic and calibration functions. Reference electrode 108 which istypically employed in connection with an analyte solution to be measuredby integrated circuit device 100 (See FIG. 1 in U.S. Pat. No. 7,948,015,which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein, for furtherdetails), may be coupled to power supply 458 to provide a referencepotential for the pixel output voltages. For example, in oneimplementation reference electrode 108 may be coupled to a supply ground(e.g., the analog ground VSSA) to provide a reference for the pixeloutput voltages based on Eq. (3) in U.S. Pat. No. 7,948,015. In oneexemplary implementation, the reference electrode voltage may be set byplacing a solution/sample of interest having a known pH level inproximity to integrated circuit device 100 and adjusting the referenceelectrode voltage until the array output signals Vout1 and Vout2 providepixel voltages at a desired reference level, from which subsequentchanges in pixel voltages reflect local changes in pH with respect tothe known reference pH level. In general, it should be appreciated thata voltage associated with reference electrode 108 need not necessarilybe identical to the reference voltage VREF discussed in U.S. Pat. No.7,948,015 (which may be employed for a variety of array diagnostic andcalibration functions), although in some implementations the referencevoltage VREF provided by power supply 458 may be used to set the voltageof reference electrode 108.

Regarding data acquisition from integrated circuit device 100, in oneembodiment array controller 124 of FIG. 4 may include one or morepreamplifiers 253 to further buffer the output signals Vout1 and Vout2from the sensor array and provide selectable gain. In oneimplementation, array controller 124 may include one preamplifier foreach output signal (e.g., two preamplifiers for two analog outputsignals). In other aspects, the preamplifiers may be configured toaccept input voltages from 0.0 to 3.3 Volts or from 0.1 to 5.0 Volts,may have programmable/computer selectable gains (e.g., 1, 2, 5, 10 and20) and low noise outputs (e.g., <10 nV/sqrtHz), and may provide lowpass filtering (e.g., bandwidths of 5 MHz and 25 MHz). In yet anotherimplementation, the preamplifiers may have a programmable/computerselectable offset for input and/or output voltage signals to set anominal level for either to a desired range. The array controller 124may also comprise one or more analog-to-digital converters 454 (ADCs) toconvert the sensor array output signals Vout1 and Vout2 to digitaloutputs (e.g., 10-bit or 12-bit) so as to provide data to computer 460.In one aspect, one ADC may be employed for each analog output of theintegrated circuit device, and each ADC may be coupled to the output ofa corresponding preamplifier (if preamplifiers are employed in a givenimplementation). In another aspect, the ADC(s) may have acomputer-selectable input value ranging from 50 mV to 1 Volt, forexample (e.g., 50 mV, 200 mV, 500 mV, 1 V) to facilitate compatibilitywith different ranges of array output signals and/or preamplifierparameters. In yet other aspects, the bandwidth of the ADC(s) may begreater than 60 MHz, and the data acquisition/conversion rate greaterthan 25 MHz (e.g., as high as 100 MHz or greater). ADC acquisitiontiming and array row and column selection may be controlled by timinggenerator 456. In particular, the timing generator provides the digitalvertical data and clock signals (DV, CV) to control row selection, thedigital horizontal data and clock signals (DH, CH) to control columnselection, and the column sample and hold signal COL SH to samplerespective pixel voltages for an enabled row. (See FIG. 9 in U.S. Pat.No. 7,948,015, which is incorporated by reference in its entiretyherein, for further details). In one implementation, timing generator456 may be implemented by a microprocessor executing code and configuredas a multi-channel digital pattern generator to provide appropriatelytimed control signals. For example, timing generator 456 may beimplemented as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). For furtherdetails of row and column circuitry, see U.S. Pat. No. 7,948,015, whichis incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method 500 according to an exemplary embodiment ofhow various operational characteristics of sensors of a sensor array maybe taken into consideration during a read operation of the sensor array.In step 501, at least one operational characteristic of an individualsensor, a group of sensors, or all sensors of a sensor array isdetermined. Examples of operational characteristics of sensors include,but are not limited to, bead loading quality, a noise spectrum, and athreshold voltage value, and any combinations thereof. In step 503, agroup of sensors in the array based on the operational characteristic ofsensors in the group may be selected. The selecting a group of sensorsin the array may be based on more than one operational characteristic ofsensors in the group. In step 505, readout of the sensors in theselected group may be enabled. According to exemplary embodiments,readout of remaining sensors of the sensor array may be bypassed. Instep 507, output signals from the enabled sensors may be received, theoutput signals indicating chemical reactions occurring proximate to thesensors of the sensor array. Sensors in the sensor array may includechemically-sensitive field effect transistors. The chemically-sensitivefield effect transistors may be arranged in rows and columns and theselecting includes selecting contiguous rows of chemically-sensitivefield effect transistors in the sensor array. During an experiment, afluidics controller may deliver individual reagents to the flow cell andintegrated circuit device in a predetermined sequence. The outputsignals may indicate an ion concentration due to sequencing reactionsoccurring proximate to the chemically-sensitive field effecttransistors. In an exemplary implementation, the output signals may beanalog signals and the method may further include converting the outputsignals into digital signals and the receiving output signals mayfurther include receiving the converted digital signals.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method 600 for nucleic acid sequencing according toan exemplary implementation. In step 601, template nucleic acids may beprovided to at least some of a plurality of locations coupled to sensorsof an array. In step 603, output signals of the sensors of the array maybe analyzed to identify which locations in the plurality of locationscontain the disposed template nucleic acids. In step 605, a group ofsensors coupled to the identified locations containing the disposedtemplate nucleic acids may be selected. In step 607, known nucleotideswithin at least some of the plurality of locations may be introduced. Instep 609, the output signals of the selected sensors may be measured todetect sequencing reaction byproducts resulting from incorporation ofthe introduced known nucleotides into one of more primers hybridized toat least one of the disposed template nucleic acids. The sequencingreaction byproducts may comprise, for example, hydrogen ions, hydroxideions, other ions, inorganic pyrophosphates (PPi), or any other suitablereaction byproduct or combination thereof. The sequencing reactionbyproducts resulting from incorporation may be of chemically similarcomposition for each of the known nucleotides and sensors in the arraydetect a same byproduct. In step 611, readout of the sensors in theselected group, and bypassing readout of remaining sensors of the sensorarray may be enabled. In step 613, at least a portion of sequences of atleast a portion of the template nucleic acids may be determined based onthe introduced known nucleotides and further based on the measuredoutput signals. The sensors may comprise field-effect transistors havinga chemically sensitive portion responsive to the sequencing reactionbyproducts and may be disposed in proximity to the locations such thatthe at least one of the sequencing reaction byproducts diffuse orcontact the sensors to thereby be detected. The chemically sensitiveportion of the field-effect transistors of the array is responsive to aplurality of different sequencing reaction byproducts. The locations maybe within respective reaction chambers. The measured output signals maybe analog signals and the method may further include converting theoutput signals into digital signals and the receiving output signals mayfurther include receiving the converted digital signals.

FIG. 7 illustrates examples of two different groups of sensors in anarray on integrated circuit device 100 that have been selected based onan operational characteristic of sensors in the group. The sensors inthe array illustrated in FIG. 7 are arranged in rows and columns. Forexample, a first group of sensors (defined by sensors within area 701)may be selected based on one (or more) operational characteristics ofsensors in the group. Another group of sensors (defined by sensorswithin area 702) may be selected based on (a) different operationalcharacteristic(s) of sensors in the group. The sensors within the wellsmay comprise fluid-addressable wells 705, and may also comprisereference wells 707. Thus, the group of sensors that is selected may becoupled to only fluid-addressable wells 705, only reference wells 707,or both fluid-addressable wells 705 and reference wells 707. In someembodiments, two or more, non-overlapping groups orpartially-overlapping groups may be selected based on the same ordifferent operational characteristics of sensors in the respectivegroups. Sensors in the two or more areas may be read out separately.First, sensors within area 701 may be read out, followed by sensorswithin area 702, or vice versa. Sensors within area 701 and 702 may beread out at the same time, while maintaining correspondence between theoutput signals and their respective sensors within a defined area(701/702, for example). The output signals from two or morecorresponding areas may be compared with one another to determine whicharea provides an improved signal based on location of sensors on thearray and/or based on the same or different operational characteristicsof the sensors. The comparison may be used to predict highperformance/preferred areas (sensors/sensor locations) for futureexperiments on unused integrated circuits/sensor arrays. The group(s) ofsensors, operational characteristic(s), and the addressable area on thearray may be dynamically selectable during an experiment or they may bepredetermined before an experiment. The number of sensors in the groupselected may vary, and the shape of the area defined by selected sensorsmay vary.

Embodiments of the above-described system provide particular technicaladvantages including an improvement in signal to noise ratio, and takingadvantage of various operational characteristics of sensors of a sensorarray, further enabling oversampling and improved speed in readout ofoutput signals. Note that not all of the activities described above inthe general description or the examples are required, that a portion ofa specific activity may not be required, and that one or more furtheractivities may be performed in addition to those described. Stillfurther, the order in which activities are listed are not necessarilythe order in which they are performed. In the foregoing specification,the concepts have been described with reference to specific embodiments.However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that variousmodifications and changes can be made without departing from the scopeof the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, thespecification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to beincluded within the scope of invention.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have beendescribed above with regard to specific embodiments. However, thebenefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any feature(s) that maycause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become morepronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essentialfeature of any or all the claims. After reading the specification,skilled artisans will appreciate that certain features are, for clarity,described herein in the context of separate embodiments, may also beprovided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures that are, for brevity, described in the context of a singleembodiment, may also be provided separately or in any subcombination.Further, references to values stated in ranges include each and everyvalue within that range. While the present invention is disclosed byreference to the preferred embodiments and examples detailed above, itis to be understood that these examples are intended in an illustrativerather than in a limiting sense. It is contemplated that modificationsand combinations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, whichmodifications and combinations will be within the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: determining anoperational characteristic of each sensor of a plurality of sensorslocated at a portion of a sensor array, the determining occurring priorto introducing known nucleotides to at least some of the plurality ofsensors; selecting a first group of sensors from the plurality ofsensors located at the portion of the sensor array, wherein theselecting is based on determining that each sensor in the first group ofsensors has a similar operational characteristic; enabling readout ofthe sensors in the first group of sensors; bypassing readout of othersensors of the sensor array that are not included in the first group ofsensors, wherein the other sensors have a different operationalcharacteristic than the first group of sensors; and receiving outputsignals from the first group of sensors, the output signals receivedafter introducing known nucleotides to the at least some of theplurality of sensors located at the portion of the sensor array.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the operational characteristic is a beadloading quality of the sensors of the sensor array.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the operational characteristic is a noise spectrum ofthe sensors of the sensor array.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein thesensors are arranged in rows and columns and the selecting includesselecting sensors disposed in contiguous rows of the sensor array. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein the output signals indicate anincorporation of the introduced known nucleotides into primershybridized to template nucleic acids disposed proximate to the sensors.6. The method of claim 1, wherein the output signals are analog signalsand the method further includes converting the output signals intodigital signals and the receiving output signals further includesreceiving the converted digital signals.
 7. A method for nucleic acidsequencing, comprising: providing template nucleic acids to at leastsome of a plurality of locations coupled to sensors of an array;analyzing output signals of the sensors of the array to identify whichlocations in the plurality of locations contain the template nucleicacids and which locations in the plurality of locations do not containthe template nucleic acids; selecting a first group of sensors from thesensors in the array, wherein sensors in the first group of sensors areselected based on the locations containing the template nucleic acids;introducing known nucleotides within at least some of the plurality oflocations to cause a reaction between the template nucleic acids and theknown nucleotides; enabling readout of the sensors in the first group ofsensors in the sensor array including the locations containing thetemplate nucleic acids, and bypassing readout of other sensors of thesensor array, wherein the other sensors are in the locations notcontaining the template nucleic acids; and measuring the output signalsof the first group of sensors to detect incorporation of the introducedknown nucleotides into primers hybridized to the template nucleic acids,wherein the first group of sensors is selected prior to the reactionbetween the template nucleic acids and the known nucleotides.
 8. Themethod of claim 7, further comprising determining at least a portion ofsequences of at least a portion of the template nucleic acids based onthe introduced known nucleotides and further based on the measuredoutput signals.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the locations arewithin respective reaction chambers.
 10. The method of claim 7, whereinthe measured output signals are analog signals and the method furtherincludes converting the measured output signals into digital signals.11. A system comprising: a sensor array including a plurality ofsensors; and a processor, communicatively coupled to the sensor array,the processor configured to: determine an operational characteristic ofeach sensor of a plurality of sensors located at a portion of the sensorarray prior to introducing known nucleotides to at least some of theplurality of sensors, select a first group of sensors from the pluralityof sensors located at the portion of the sensor array based ondetermining that each sensor in the first group of sensors has a similaroperational characteristic, enable readout of the sensors in the firstgroup, bypass readout of other sensors of the sensor array that are notincluded in the first group of sensors, wherein the other sensors have adifferent operational characteristic from the first group of sensors,and receive output signals at the processor from the first group ofsensors, the output signals received after introducing known nucleotidesto the at least some of the plurality of sensors located at the portionof the sensor array.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the operationalcharacteristic is a bead loading quality of the sensors of the sensorarray.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the operationalcharacteristic is a noise spectrum of the sensors of the sensor array.14. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensors are arranged in rows andcolumns and the selecting includes selecting sensors disposed incontiguous rows of the sensor array.
 15. The system of claim 11, whereinthe output signals indicate an incorporation of the introduced knownnucleotides into primers hybridized to template nucleic acids disposedproximate to the sensors.
 16. The system of claim 11, further comprisingan analog-to-digital converter configured to convert analog outputsignals from sensors of the sensor array into digital output signals,wherein the processor is further configured to receive the digitaloutput signals.
 17. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor isimplemented in a field programmable gate array (FPGA).